Reproducer Questions...

[Curt A]

I'm no expert on Edison reproducers, so I thought I would consult you experts... I found these in a box of stuff from an antique dealer who said he bought a dresser at an auction that had a bunch of phonograph stuff still in it.

So, here are my questions: (1) What type of reproducer is the one with an arm and no engraving? It looks like an early Standard Speaker, but it doesn't have a weight on it. (2) I have most of an N reproducer, minus the needle bar and stylus and two N tail weights. Which tail weight is correct for an Edison Standard Model E ? Also, what needle bar and stylus is necessary to complete it? Will an H needle bar and stylus work, or is the N a special bar and stylus?

Thanks for your help. I would like to get the N rebuilt as soon as I can...

Curt

[Stephen_Madara]

you can see where the N is Stamped over the H on the one tail.

[phonogfp]

The earlier reproducer started life as a Standard Speaker in all probability. (I think all Recorders had stamping on the adjusting arm.) Obviously, someone has worked on it, replacing the original glass diaphragm with a later copper model, and substituting a different stylus bar for that of the Standard Speaker.

George P.

[Curt A]

Thanks George, does the “N” require a special needle bar and stylus or will an “H” work?

[phonogfp]

Thanks George, does the “N” require a special needle bar and stylus or will an “H” work?

I believe the needle bar for the "H" is the same as the "N" but you might want to check Steve Medved's article in The Antique Phonograph to be sure.

George P.

[VanEpsFan1914]

The Model H stylus bar will fit a Model N reproducer, but the N did come with a proprietary stylus bar stamped N on the bottom surface in very small font. The original N bar is not something I would seek out for a complete restoration. It was very long and crooked on the end as a result of the grinding process at the Edison factory. Replacing styli in these bars is a chancy procedure for even an experienced repairman as the end tends to be too gangly to work with compared with the compact chunkiness of a Model H bar.

Mormon S can send you some pictures, I am sure; he has my Model N reproducer because he bought my Standard E the other week.

[Phonofreak]

Looking at the early Automatic, I think it was an early recorder that was modified into a reproducer. The weight looks like that of a recorder. I don't know if the early recorders had a stamp on the arm or not. I never saw a small weight on an N reproducer Was this a small body like an H, K, or C. Was this the earlier N reproducer? I'm more familiar with the larger body and diaphragm, and tail weight. Also, I've seen the N with the bobbed weight.This one came on my Model E Standard. For the larger N, I think the stylus bar is larger than the one used for the C, H, and K, mainly because the body of these reproducers are smaller than the N.
Harvey Kravitz

[Shawn]

George is correct, as always is the case!

The early Edison started life as a Standard Speaker. Two tell tail marks confirm this.

First, the angle of the adjusting arm to the reproducer weight is 90 degrees. In a recorder, it is less than 90 degrees.

Second, the top has the hole where the original locating pin from the early Standard Speaker was removed.

Shawn

[phonogfp]

George is correct, as always is the case!

Well, I'm glad my hunch was confirmed, but I'm certainly not infallible!

George P.

[rgordon939]

The N reproducer came out in November of 1911. The first weight was the round weight followed by the trowel weight. Later on came the bent weight. There are four versions of the bent weight, over stamped H, Model N 4 Minute, Model N, and the large letter N.

Rich Gordon